King eyeing Formula 1 promotion with Manor in 2017

Jordan King is remaining focused on his GP2 Series campaign, but has one eye on a 2017 promotion to Formula 1, which he feels would be easier should be take the GP2 crown.

The British driver has been victorious twice in 2016 whilst racing for Racing Engineering, and he has also driven Formula 1 machinery for Manor Racing at both the Circuit de Catalunya and Silverstone this year, and with both Pascal Wehrlein and Esteban Ocon linked to drives elsewhere next year, King could find himself in a good position for a drive with the Banbury-based squad.

Ideally King would like the opportunity to run in a free practice session sometime during the remainder of the season for Manor, but insists his focus will remain on attempting to win in GP2, where he currently sits seventh in the championship with eight races remaining.

“The childhood goal was to be Formula 1 World Champion, so to get into a race seat at some point has got to be on the path to achieve that and I feel the time is right to be moving up next year, that’s the goal,” said King to F1i.com.

“I’ve not had a phone call yet but I would love to have at least one or two Friday mornings if not more. I would love to do all of the Friday mornings left of the year but I don’t know.

“For me I’m focusing on GP2, I’m doing everything I can this year for that as a sideline. So if I win GP2 it makes it a lot easier for me to get a Formula 1 seat, whereas if I push Formula 1 and make sure I’ve done a Friday morning this year and miss out on the GP2 title it could be the wrong way round.”

Jordan King tested with Manor at Silverstone earlier this season – Credit: Octane Photographic Ltd